A 7-year-old boy was killed and his two siblings were critically injured after a minivan struck them while they were sitting along the roadside in Barangay Naje, Arakan, North Cotabato, police said.
The incident occurred at about 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 30, 2025. According to an investigation by the Arakan Municipal Police, the three children, who are siblings, were playing with a cellphone along the highway when they were hit by a minivan.
Police said the impact was strong, killing one of the children instantly. The two other minors were rushed to a hospital in Arakan before being transferred to Cotabato City for further medical treatment and surgery. Doctors said the injured children remain under close observation due to the severity of their injuries.
Investigators said plastic parts of the minivan were scattered at the crash site, and the vehicle’s license plate was found detached from the unit. Initial findings also showed that one of the victims was the child of a rubber tapper and was struck just outside the gate of their home along the highway.
Authorities said the driver of the minivan initially fled the scene following the collision. However, on Dec. 31, 2025, police confirmed that the driver, a businesswoman from Kabacan, Cotabato, was released after both parties reached a settlement.
Arakan police chief Reynante Pascua said the victim’s family decided not to file charges after the driver voluntarily provided a substantial amount of money to cover medical and surgical expenses of the injured children.
Police reiterated reminders to motorists to exercise caution, especially in residential areas and along highways where children are present.
